OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- A member of the 170th Group Airfield Management at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, was named 2019 Outstanding Airman of the Year for the Nebraska Air National Guard.
Selection criteria for this award are based to include civilian education, work efforts done over the past calendar year in completing professional military education, accomplishments within work areas or overseas deployments, volunteer activities or involvement within the community.
There were 238 Nebraska Guardsmen considered in the Airmen Category. All nominees for this award were selected by Nebraska ANG senior enlisted leaders.
Senior Airman Laura Schwery, airfield management shift lead, from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, was one of nine Airmen, all from within the 170th Group, Nebraska Joint Force Headquarters and the 155th Air Refueling Wing submitted to the state level.
Originally from Atlantic, Iowa, she joined the Air Force in February 2014. She was stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, where she worked in the Airfield management career field for four years.
Schwery wanted to focus on her degree and be closer to home and family. In April 2018 she joined the Air National Guard and became a member of the 170th Group.
“I decided on Homeland Security,” said Schwery “Because the Air Force Office of Special Investigations was my dream career when I joined the Air Force.”
Currently a full-time student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Schwery is working on her bachelor’s degree in Homeland Security. Her aspiration is to become a counterterrorism analyst.
“Intelligence has always interested me,” Schwery said. “More so the foreign relations field and the safety of our country.”
As the Nebraska ANG OAY winner, Schwery will now move on to a six-state region competition. Where she will be competing against other Airmen from Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma.
“SrA Schwery was an awesome addition to the team, her prior active duty brought a lot of experience,” said Gary Kaufman, 55th Operations Support Squadron, airfield manager. “I’m very proud of her, she will represent the Nebraska ANG and the Governor very well.”
If Schwery wins at the regional level, she will compete against representatives from the seven other regions at the national level.